Home > Playing Dirty (The Driven World)(9)

Playing Dirty (The Driven World)(9)
Author: Cheri Marie

Sebastian also mentioned that there are other buyers interested and that if we wanted it, we should move on it quickly. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Tristan

 

Just as I hit send, my inbox dings, letting me know I have a new message. Arianna is quick about replying to messages, but unless she’s suddenly become psychic, that isn’t from her. I open my inbox and find a message from an email I don’t recognize, but the subject line reads, ‘my apologies’. Hesitantly, I click on the message and wait for it to pop up on the screen.

 

Tristan-

I would like to apologize for today. I should have kept things more professional. There is a time and place for everything, and today was neither the time nor place. Also, while I am insanely attracted to you, I am not the type to step on another man's toes, so I hope that I didn’t cause any issues between you and your boyfriend.

I hope you will accept my apology and my invitation to allow me to buy you a coffee to make up for my bad behavior.

Sincerely,

Sebastian

 

I stare at the screen, trying to process what I just read, but I’m stuck on ‘I’m insanely attracted to you’. How is that even possible? He doesn’t even know me. That doesn’t stop you from fantasizing about him now does it, sugar tits. I shake my head at myself. Fuck me, this is bad. I can accept his apology, but accepting his invitation to have coffee is out of the question.

I decide to pour a glass of wine. As I stand at the kitchen window, I see Lazaro get into his car and drive away. He’d said he was going back to work. I sigh. Looks like we won’t be talking anytime soon.

My phone rings on the bench and it’s Evan.

“Hey,” I answer, trying to keep my tone upbeat.

“What are you doing tonight? Jax wants to go see Aimee at work and thought you and I could join him.”

“Sounds fun,” I reply.

“You okay?” Evan asks, obviously picking up the tone in my voice.

“No, Laz is working late as usual.”

“All the more reason for you to come out. I’ll pick you up in an hour. Drinks are on me.” He hangs up before I can answer. Maybe I need a night out. I’ll send Lazaro a text to tell him where I’m headed.

Me: Hey, just me. I’m headed out with Evan and Jaxson to Beck’s. I’ll see you when I get home. Then I want to talk to you tomorrow. It’s important.

Lazaro: Sure.

I don’t expect him to turn up at all. He’ll make up some excuse I’m sure. I’m more determined than ever to sort us out. I love him. Don’t I? Right now, I don’t know what I feel anymore. Nothing is clear. I’m hoping things will be tomorrow once I’ve talked with Lazaro.

 

 

Chapter Nine

 

 

Sebastian

 

 

I hear my phone ping from the table next to the bed as I step out of the shower. Slinging a towel around my hips, I stride over and grab it from the nightstand, opening my email to find a response from Tristan.

 

Sebastian

I appreciate and accept your apology. I apologize as well; I definitely could have been more professional too. There’s just… there’s something about you that irks the hell out of me. Maybe it’s that ridiculous nickname you gave me. While I accept your apology, I regretfully have to decline the coffee. I think it’s probably best to keep our distance.

Sincerely,

Tristan

 

I sit down on the bed relieved that she accepted my apology but frustrated at the realization of who her boyfriend is. Why, of all people, does it have to be my estranged half-brother? He already hates me enough. Pulling up my text I fire off a message to Ben.

Me: Meet you at Beck’s in 30. Make sure you have some shots ready. After today, I need to get drunk.

Ben: Will do. See you then.

I toss my phone on the bed and get dressed to go meet up with Ben. Hopefully find a random chick to bring back to help me fuck Tristan Summers out of my system.

 

 

I pull up out front of Beck’s and not many cars are in the parking lot. It must be a slow night. Making my way inside, I find Ben sitting at the bar chatting up some cute blonde that’s behind the bar. As I get closer, there’s something really familiar about her.

“Sebastian Abbott. Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”

“Aimee Martin?”

“In the flesh,” she says with a shrug.

“Bring your ass around this bar and hug me girl!”

Aimee comes around the bar and wraps her arms around me. “I’ve missed you! How have you been?”

“I’m great! Just working here and going to school.”

Releasing her, I take a seat next to Ben as he orders us a round of beers. “So, are you married?”

“No, not yet. I am seeing someone though. We’ve been together two years, but he’s been deployed for half our relationship. What about you?”

I laugh. “Me? Married? Come on girl, you know me better than that.”

“Ahh yes, forever a bachelor. Fucking them and forgetting them since day one.”

“Cheers to that!” Ben pipes up, tapping his bottle to mine.

Aimee rolls her eyes and shakes her head at us as she wipes down the other end of the bar where a few patrons just vacated from. “So, what brings you back to town? I thought this place would forever be in your rearview mirror.”

I shrug. “That was the plan, but mom loves it here so as long as she’s here, I’ll be back. She’s actually why I’m here now. She fell the other day, and they think she may have broken her shoulder.”

“Oh man, sorry to hear that. Hope she heals soon.”

“Thank you.”

I get lost in thought, staring at the back of the bar when Ben shoulder bumps me. “Earth to Sebastian.”

“Sorry,” I apologize. I seem to be doing that quite a bit today.

“So, are you going to tell me what happened today and why you needed the assistant’s email?”

I sigh and take a swig of my beer. “Let’s just say, today wasn’t the first time she and I have met.”

Ben raises an eyebrow. “Okay.... and?”

Before I can reply, there’s a squeal, and I look over to see Aimee racing around the bar and running towards the front of the bar where a tall blonde, jock looking dude with a military cut, is standing. She launches herself into his arms. Behind him, another guy walks in, looking very similar to the first one which I assume is his brother. He stops to hold the door open for someone and a moment later she comes into view.

“Tristan.” Her name comes out a whisper, but her eyes come up to meet mine as if she had heard me across the bar.

She stops mid-stride, her eyes burning into mine before she breaks eye contact. I watch her, studying her movements and every curve of her body, as she walks through the bar and takes a seat next to one of the guys at the far end of the bar. He says something that makes her throw her head back in laughter. I break away from watching them and turn my attention back to Ben.

“That’s her.”

“Who?”

“The assistant.”

He laughs and shakes his head in disbelief. “It all makes sense now.”

Hot Books
» House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1)
» A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
» From Blood and Ash (Blood And Ash #1)
» A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime
» Deviant King (Royal Elite #1)
» Den of Vipers
» House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2)
» The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #
» Sweet Temptation
» The Sweetest Oblivion (Made #1)
» Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels #6)
» Wreck & Ruin
» Steel Princess (Royal Elite #2)
» Twisted Hate (Twisted #3)
» The Play (Briar U Book 3)